Newcastle have now made contact to sign a forward who scored a hat-trick in the UEFA Champions League in the 2020/21 campaign.
Eddie Howe can boast a superb frontline at St James’ Park right now, with two of the Premier League’s best attackers on Tyneside in Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon.
That goes without mentioning the talented Harvey Barnes and Callum Wilson.
However, there is little strength in depth behind Gordon and Barnes out wide – something Newcastle are now looking to rectify with a move for a Turkish winger…
Newcastle make contact to sign Irfan Can Kahveci
Well – according to Turkish news outlet Karar – Newcastle have made contact to sign Irfan Can Kahveci.
The story states that Newcastle have spoken to the Turkey international’s representatives about a summer switch to St James’ Park.
Karar add that Fenerbahce ideally want a sum of €30m (£26m) to sell Kahveci.
However, the Turkish news outlet point out that Fenerbahce’s No.17 only has 12 months remaining on his contract, so the Super Lig side are not in a position to demand such a high figure.
Karar do not mention whether Kahveci is in talks to sign a new contract, so it would seem Newcastle have a decent chance of pulling this deal off.
The 28-year-old has shone so far this season, scoring 18 goals while also providing 12 assists in 45 appearances across all competitions.
Exciting rumour
Of course, any signing from Turkish football will arrive to widespread scepticism, given the difference in quality between the Premier League and the Super Lig.
For example, Papiss Cisse – a player who Newcastle deemed to be over the hill back in 2016 – scored 22 goals in 32 Super Lig appearances as recently as 2020.
However, Kahveci has delivered the goods in the UEFA Champions League of all stages, a competition which typically separates the best from the rest.
The man from Corum joined an exclusive list of players to score a UEFA Champions League hat-trick back in 2020, after netting three goals in a 4-3 defeat to RB Leipzig.
That is quite impressive – to say the least – and Kahveci’s haul of 30 goal involvements so far this season would suggest he is only becoming more effective in front of goal.